Iran hits US drone in Hormuz Strait, US blockade diverts 96 vessels

Iran said on Thursday it had targeted a US drone in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States said its naval blockade against Iran had redirected 96 commercial vessels, as maritime escalation continued between the two sides.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that its naval forces had targeted a US unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said the Saildrone Explorer-type USV was on an "aggressive mission" and was struck at the strait's entrance.

Saildrone Explorer USVs were previously used in the region by the US Fifth Fleet and Task Force 59 headquartered in Bahrain, the IRGC said, adding that the US naval base in Bahrain had been targeted in Iranian strikes and the USVs are now used by a unit based in Khasab in Oman.

The IRGC repeated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and under its control, warning that "any hostile presence in the strategic waterway will be targeted." US forces had redirected 96 commercial vessels as part of its naval blockade operation against Iran as of September 10, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Thursday.

CENTCOM added that it had allowed the passage of more than 50 vessels supporting humanitarian aid. (With input from Xinhua)